Wednesday, March 21, 2012

When it comes to food, we agree! Atleast in the context of wanting to eat. But while Luis likes his meal plain to the point of being bland, I like it flavorful and spicy -all the works. I would even fry some no cook sausages in the hope of adding more flavor to it. He's ok taking fried fishes without the assorted sauces that most of us would love having with the lowly fried fish. Taste-wise, I'm more adventurous, while he's run of the "meal". He's happy with chocolate bars, i would love fruit salads and leche flans. He eats four times as much and four times more often than I do.

Our usual snacks were clashing flavors.

For him, monster float
w/ parental guidance :-)

For me, hilaw na mangga't bagoong
(green mango & shrimp paste)

“Mismatched” you say, but this difference is what strengthens our partnership. We just click! We do goof around and laugh with each other frequently. We mesh well together and the reality that we make each other's lives flavorful is what we both enjoy.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

If my son is into egadgets (which I strongly oppose), I am into shoes (which he strongly oppose). Since that would translate to a shorter Timezone stint for him or just an hour stay at Little Martians because I also need time to shop for shoes. I confess, when I stop buying shoes, I am just in remission. Its temporary and incomplete subsidence. The compulsion doesn't completely leave me. Intensity of the desire just varies :) Sort of just relaxing a bit in preparation for another shoe 'attack.' I can’t help it — the general frenzy surrounding the buying of shoes gives me a magical make-over. I just love the feeling of buying shoes.....

But as a mom, I discipline my child by showing a good example to him. I buy only when I need to :) I just have to work my way into justifying this need. Besides, it melts my heart everytime Luis' face lights up knowing he has enough time to spend hanging around at his fave spot.

Sharing with you the following pairs I bought the past few months because I just needed to: [:-)]

I maybe first in line for the new shoes in town. I maybe enslaved to the habit. But I am still a mom, first and foremost!

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Being the only child, and the only kid in the house, Luis finds himself always looking for friends to play with. Of course there's always the mom who's there to play combat and wrestle with him everytime, but the 'numbers gap' makes all the difference. Sometimes I just couldn't catch up :) That is why it makes him very happy whenever his friends or cousins visit him. But there's always an obvious change in mood when its time for his playmates to leave. This is the reason why there's been a conscious effort on my part to have pets in the house. Luis loves having pets around. They've been his constant companion and he never worries about them having to go.

I gave Luis these rabbits during his 5th birthday. Rabbits require social interaction and that's what Luis wants. He gave them a cutie name: Ability and Billy.

These African lovebird pair was given last year during valentines day. He named them John and Ria. Where Luis got these names is still a mystery.

Then came Grant, a lhaso apso. Since then, Grant has been Luis' favorite - 'A bestfriend,' he says.

He plays with him after school and supervises in the feeding. Whenever we go out shopping, Luis always comes back with a treat for Grant. He absolutely loves spoiling him rotten.

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Having pets around not only gives my kid the opportunity to learn about responsibility, with plenty of supervision by mom of course, but it also shortens his facetime with the computer and takes his time away from playing egadgets.(Yes!) And it bridges the gap too! :-)

Thursday, March 1, 2012

It is said that thoughts and idea put in a child's mind at a young age never dies. Therefore, everytime I get an opportunity, I always instill to my son, the importance of saving money. I encourage him to put in the bank his excess school allowance so that everytime he wants to buy something, he could buy it using his own savings. He should work for it and earn it if he really wants it, that's my mantra. There was a time when Luis made sandwiches to sell. His signature - a whole chocolate bar between 2 slices of bread, imagine that! - his loyal customers include his lolo and lola.

Another earning opportunity presented itself to us when Luis was invited to the Kiddopreneur Bazaar at Rockwell Club. This event aimed to teach kids about entrepreneurship by setting-up their own booths and actually manning it on their own. I took charge in the ordering of empanada minis and pizza minis which he would sell. Luis prepared and decorated his own booth which he proudly named "My Mini Me Booth."

After preparing the booth and display, Luis dressed himself for the part. This has earned him an interview by a tv reporter who was there to cover the event.

Luis' most loyal customer did not miss the event. His lola was also present to support. She was probably going around the different booths when this shot was taken.

I doubted at first if Luis would last till the end of the event. The place was crowded, the noise was a little unbearable, and the ventilation was not that perfect at all. These would normally frustrate Luis but, surprisingly, he didn't mind that time. Every now and then, he would just take a bite of the pizza mini he's selling then he's ready to go again. Peso bills and coins were coming in and it excites him. He's even doing the accounting every now and then. The 5-hour event gave him a total earning of P2,076.00. He was ecstatic! I was proud. Next day, he was in the bank making a deposit.

Young as he is, i know he's learning to embrace the good habit of saving. I believe old habits die hard, so, if we can instil good habits in our child at early age that will be life lesson for them.